'It Will Be An Honour To Lead India U19': Lakshya Raichandani On Getting Captaincy For Australia U19

By Pramit Meher

**U19 Captaincy: A Young Batter's Big Moment** Just got wind of some great news, and as someone who works closely with young athletes, I really appreciate the mindset here. **The Story** 17-year-old Uttarakhand batter Lakshya Raichandani has been handed the armband for India U19's whiteball side. The series: three unofficial ODIs vs Australia U19, tipping off Sept 18 in Rajkot & Ahmedabad. He'll also stand in as vice-captain for the two unofficial Tests (Sept 28–Oct 8). **Why Him?** Not handed this lightly. The kid's been delivering: - A double ton + a century in Youth Tests vs Sri Lanka U19 - Two fifties in the preceding Youth ODIs - A crisp 76 in the Dehradun T20 League recently **What Stands Out (From a Mental Prep Viewpoint)** What I love here is his composure. He's keeping his routine untouched, watching video footage to plan against the Aussies' style, and—importantly—keeping team above self. That "form gives confidence, but I stay the same mindset" attitude? That's exactly the psychological resilience we want in developing players. From a workload/injury prevention lens, steady routines and low-pressure mindsets in U19s set up healthier careers long-term. His family's buzzing too—proper support system, which we know is huge for young performers juggling competitive cricket with everything else. Exciting times ahead for this one. Let's see him lead. 🏏 *Source: IANS* Source: Cricketnmore